No Pillows And No Blankets On Red-eye
Feb 4, 2008, 5:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 73
No Pillows And No Blankets On Red-eye
Just got back from a r/t to Nyc from California. Going and coming back there were no pillows and no blanket on board....I fount it very difficult to understand especially for the red-eye flight. When asked to hostess I was told "We are facing out pillows and blankets, soon we will offer them for sale".
Later on one of the hostess who denied a blanket to me gave a blanket to someone seated in the row in front of me. I do not really understand why, I was going to complain....
PLEASE BE AWARE TO BRING YOUR OWN PILLOWS AND BLANKETS...
Anyone else had the same experience ??
Later on one of the hostess who denied a blanket to me gave a blanket to someone seated in the row in front of me. I do not really understand why, I was going to complain....
PLEASE BE AWARE TO BRING YOUR OWN PILLOWS AND BLANKETS...
Anyone else had the same experience ??
Feb 5, 2008, 12:19 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Long Island, NY and Boca Raton, FL
Programs: JetBlue TrueBlue, AAdvantage, Rapid Rewards, Sky Miles, SPG, Marriott Rewards, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 2,275
Whatever the company chooses to do, I just really hope they sell these "bundles" in the GATE AREA at airports....NOT on the aircraft! After the fleet went on a diet due to fuel costs, it would be in their best interest to not start adding weight once again to the aircraft. They can stock up on these by the entrance to the jet bridge. It would only be needed mostly on transcons, maybe a few 3+ hour flights. Ideally, I would set this up with a moveable cart so that a jetBlue crewmember can easily move gate to gate before departure times to sell the items. Also, to eliminate confusion and hassle - equip them with the handheld CC readers like on the aircraft, no cash!
Feb 5, 2008, 8:19 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2006
Programs: jetBlue TrueBlue, Marriott Rewards, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 2,164
The pillow and blanket policy is being looked at. Some west coast cities have them in stock, some cities don't. Unfortunatly the inflight crew is at the mercy of the station. We usually ask for them, be rarely to we recieve them.
On JFK-LGB and BOS-MCO we are test selling our comfort pack. I just flew MCO-BOS and we had these kits onboard for testing. As I figured, we didn't sell any as the flight was only 2 hours. I bet they are selling pretty well on the transcon JFK-LGB and the redeye back. I bought one for myself, yes I actually slid my credit card and paid $5 for it. In my opinion it is well worth the $5 we are charging for it. It has a felt-type blow up neck pillow, the same blow up neck pillow you would buy at the store and a full body length fleece blanket.
I commute all the time and bought it mainly for the pillow and not so much the blanket, as I am warm by nature. I can see a good demand for these on the transcon flights but I don't think they will be a big seller on the 1-2hour flights.
On JFK-LGB and BOS-MCO we are test selling our comfort pack. I just flew MCO-BOS and we had these kits onboard for testing. As I figured, we didn't sell any as the flight was only 2 hours. I bet they are selling pretty well on the transcon JFK-LGB and the redeye back. I bought one for myself, yes I actually slid my credit card and paid $5 for it. In my opinion it is well worth the $5 we are charging for it. It has a felt-type blow up neck pillow, the same blow up neck pillow you would buy at the store and a full body length fleece blanket.
I commute all the time and bought it mainly for the pillow and not so much the blanket, as I am warm by nature. I can see a good demand for these on the transcon flights but I don't think they will be a big seller on the 1-2hour flights.
Feb 5, 2008, 8:56 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Northern New Jersey
Programs: OnePass, AAdvantage, TrueBlue, HHonors
Posts: 2,709
The pillow and blanket policy is being looked at. Some west coast cities have them in stock, some cities don't. Unfortunatly the inflight crew is at the mercy of the station. We usually ask for them, be rarely to we recieve them.
On JFK-LGB and BOS-MCO we are test selling our comfort pack. I just flew MCO-BOS and we had these kits onboard for testing. As I figured, we didn't sell any as the flight was only 2 hours. I bet they are selling pretty well on the transcon JFK-LGB and the redeye back. I bought one for myself, yes I actually slid my credit card and paid $5 for it. In my opinion it is well worth the $5 we are charging for it. It has a felt-type blow up neck pillow, the same blow up neck pillow you would buy at the store and a full body length fleece blanket.
I commute all the time and bought it mainly for the pillow and not so much the blanket, as I am warm by nature. I can see a good demand for these on the transcon flights but I don't think they will be a big seller on the 1-2hour flights.
On JFK-LGB and BOS-MCO we are test selling our comfort pack. I just flew MCO-BOS and we had these kits onboard for testing. As I figured, we didn't sell any as the flight was only 2 hours. I bet they are selling pretty well on the transcon JFK-LGB and the redeye back. I bought one for myself, yes I actually slid my credit card and paid $5 for it. In my opinion it is well worth the $5 we are charging for it. It has a felt-type blow up neck pillow, the same blow up neck pillow you would buy at the store and a full body length fleece blanket.
I commute all the time and bought it mainly for the pillow and not so much the blanket, as I am warm by nature. I can see a good demand for these on the transcon flights but I don't think they will be a big seller on the 1-2hour flights.
Feb 5, 2008, 9:40 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2006
Programs: jetBlue TrueBlue, Marriott Rewards, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 2,164
There are usually 1 or 2 who request them. I still cringe when people put their heads on them. With some of the things I've seen pillows go through, both on JetBlue and other carriers, I would never use airline pillows.
Feb 5, 2008, 7:20 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: UA, Hertz Gold, AA Gold, DL Silver
Posts: 825
Although the individual blankets and pillows probably don't weight that much, the real savings is in the collective numbers. I'm completely making up numbers here, but lets say that it costs an additional $5 in fuel per flight to carry these items, multiply that by 100 flights a day and you're at $182,500 savings each year (my guess is that the $5 figure may be a bit high, and the 100 flights a day is probably low).
As consumers we demand low prices and have forced providers to cut costs (their costs) in order to bring the low prices we so desire. Every time we think we're being "nickled-and-dimed" we should take a moment to realize just how many nickles and dimes we're talking about.
As consumers we demand low prices and have forced providers to cut costs (their costs) in order to bring the low prices we so desire. Every time we think we're being "nickled-and-dimed" we should take a moment to realize just how many nickles and dimes we're talking about.
Feb 5, 2008, 8:14 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 294
that is exactly how the legacies got on the slippery slope of nickle and diming their customers - now another one is joining the party.
I have no problem with it - just what constituted the "humanity" that JBLU claimed that it EXCLUSIVELY put back into the air travel - sure it is not blanket, not earphone, not pillows, then what?
I have no problem with it - just what constituted the "humanity" that JBLU claimed that it EXCLUSIVELY put back into the air travel - sure it is not blanket, not earphone, not pillows, then what?
Although the individual blankets and pillows probably don't weight that much, the real savings is in the collective numbers. I'm completely making up numbers here, but lets say that it costs an additional $5 in fuel per flight to carry these items, multiply that by 100 flights a day and you're at $182,500 savings each year (my guess is that the $5 figure may be a bit high, and the 100 flights a day is probably low).
As consumers we demand low prices and have forced providers to cut costs (their costs) in order to bring the low prices we so desire. Every time we think we're being "nickled-and-dimed" we should take a moment to realize just how many nickles and dimes we're talking about.
As consumers we demand low prices and have forced providers to cut costs (their costs) in order to bring the low prices we so desire. Every time we think we're being "nickled-and-dimed" we should take a moment to realize just how many nickles and dimes we're talking about.
Feb 5, 2008, 8:22 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2006
Programs: jetBlue TrueBlue, Marriott Rewards, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 2,164
That's why we are test selling it and seeing the customer feedback. If we get a positive feed back from the customers then the comfort packs may go forward and you'll see them onboard instead of the "free" pillows and blankets. If customer feedback is negative and the testing doesn't go well then we may not sell the comfort packs. Remember, we could have just made the change in the policy and said tough luck to you the customers. We didn't though, we want your input on things like this. If you would rather have the free blankets and pillows then go to Speak Up at www.jetblue.com and let us know!
Feb 5, 2008, 9:58 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Long Island, NY and Boca Raton, FL
Programs: JetBlue TrueBlue, AAdvantage, Rapid Rewards, Sky Miles, SPG, Marriott Rewards, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 2,275
that is exactly how the legacies got on the slippery slope of nickle and diming their customers - now another one is joining the party.
I have no problem with it - just what constituted the "humanity" that JBLU claimed that it EXCLUSIVELY put back into the air travel - sure it is not blanket, not earphone, not pillows, then what?
I have no problem with it - just what constituted the "humanity" that JBLU claimed that it EXCLUSIVELY put back into the air travel - sure it is not blanket, not earphone, not pillows, then what?
IFE - JetBlue innovated tremendously with Live TV, XM Radio, 3 Fox InFlight movies, etc.
Personal Tray Service - No carts clogging the aisle
Wider cabins
More legroom
No Sat. night stay
One-way fares
Reasonable fare cap
Ease of earning and redeeming points
Free snacks
etc. etc. etc.
Feb 9, 2008, 11:24 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 73
On my flight back from Jfk I asked for a blanked as soon as I got on board and got the standard response "sorry we are phasing them out and none are available on board"...I asked the hostess to double check and she told me she was sure she had none on board...Then later on the same hostess gave a blanket to a a guest seating in the row in front on me...why ???
At least they could be consistent with this policy ??!!!
At least they could be consistent with this policy ??!!!
Feb 13, 2008, 10:40 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 1,439
Charging for pillows and blanket, even on redeyes? Shades of Ryanair. What's next? Charging for water and soda?
So much for jetBlue's superior passenger experience.
jetBlue's entire model has really been based on the idea of a different experience, and once you try us, you'll be addicted. This is a disappointing development that flies in the face of their previous model. It will definitely upset passengers - especially those first-time customers that they want to woo with the jetBlue experience.
And the cost savings is quite modest. I thought that being penny-wise and pound-foolish was a sickness that afflicted only the legacies. Apparently, it is contagious.
I sure hope this isn't the beginning of a trend.
So much for jetBlue's superior passenger experience.
jetBlue's entire model has really been based on the idea of a different experience, and once you try us, you'll be addicted. This is a disappointing development that flies in the face of their previous model. It will definitely upset passengers - especially those first-time customers that they want to woo with the jetBlue experience.
And the cost savings is quite modest. I thought that being penny-wise and pound-foolish was a sickness that afflicted only the legacies. Apparently, it is contagious.
I sure hope this isn't the beginning of a trend.
Feb 14, 2008, 6:25 am
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
But once you're addicted you can't break the cycle 
It will make it harder to get new addicts into the fold, though only if B6 is still a worse experience than the other options. As the other carriers reduce their service levels, B6 staying further ahead doesn't really do them any good. If you can get the same customers (and potentially incremental revenue from selling the pack) by being 10% better than the rest of the industry, spending extra money (and avoiding the incremental revenue) to be 20% better is wasted money.
I'm not saying that I like B6 going this direction, but I think that it isn't all that surprising that they are trending towards the other carriers.
It will make it harder to get new addicts into the fold, though only if B6 is still a worse experience than the other options. As the other carriers reduce their service levels, B6 staying further ahead doesn't really do them any good. If you can get the same customers (and potentially incremental revenue from selling the pack) by being 10% better than the rest of the industry, spending extra money (and avoiding the incremental revenue) to be 20% better is wasted money.
I'm not saying that I like B6 going this direction, but I think that it isn't all that surprising that they are trending towards the other carriers.